The objective of this meta-analysis was to develop and validate empirical equations predicting BW gain (BWG) and carcass traits of growing cattle from intake and diet composition variables. The modelling was based on treatment mean data from feeding trials in growing cattle, in which the nutrient supply was manipulated by wide ranges of forage and concentrate factors. The final dataset comprised 527 diets in 116 studies. The diets were mainly based on grass silage or grass silage partly or completely replaced by whole-crop silages, hay or straw. The concentrate feeds consisted of cereal grains, fibrous by-products and protein supplements. Mixed model regression analysis with a random study effect was used to develop prediction equations for BWG and carcass traits. The best-fit models included linear and quadratic effects of metabolisable energy (ME) intake per metabolic BW (BW0.75), linear effects of BW0.75, and dietary concentrations of NDF, fat and feed metabolisable protein (MP) as significant variables. Although diet variables had significant effects on BWG, their contribution to improve the model predictions compared with ME intake models was small. Feed MP rather than total MP was included in the final model, since it is less correlated to dietary ME concentration than total MP. None of the quadratic terms of feed variables was significant (P>0.10) when included in the final models. Further, additional feed variables (e.g. silage fermentation products, forage digestibility) did not have significant effects on BWG. For carcass traits, increased ME intake (ME/BW0.75) improved both dressing proportion (P<0.01) and carcass conformation (P<0.001) and increased (P<0.001) carcass fat score. Increased dietary CP concentration had no significant (P>0.10) effect on dressing proportion or carcass conformation score, but it increased (P<0.01) carcass fat score. The current study demonstrated that ME intake per BW0.75 was clearly the most important variable explaining the BWG response in growing cattle. The effect of increased ME supply displayed diminishing responses that could be associated with increased energy concentration of BWG, reduced diet metabolisability (proportion of ME of gross energy) and/or decreased efficiency of ME utilisation for growth with increased intake. Negative effects of increased dietary NDF concentration on BWG were smaller compared to responses that energy evaluation systems predict for energy retention. The present results showed only marginal effects of protein supply on BWG in growing cattle.

Carcass data from 123 pigs slaughtered at either 120 lb., 200 lb. or 260 lb. live-weight have been analysed to study the relative value of four sample joints in predicting tissue composition in the carcass.

Percentage fat, muscle or bone in all joints was highly correlated (P<0·01) with the corresponding percentage of that tissue in the carcass. The highest correlations and correspondingly lowest residual standard errors were found for the loin, rib and composite loin and ham joints.

Significance tests of the a and b constants in regression equations relating percentage fat, bone and muscle in the joint to that in the carcass showed that only with the rib joint was it legitimate to combine the data from each slaughter weight into ‘overall’ equations.

As pooling the data for the combined loin and ham joint had little effect on the magnitude of the residual standard errors, overall equations relating tissue composition of that joint to the whole are also given. The accuracy of prediction, however, was lower than that obtained with the rib joint.

Application of the pooled regression equations relating carcass and rib joint composition to independent data, obtained by identical techniques, gave promising results.

The effect of degree of saturation (ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids, U/S) and free fatty acid (FFA) content of fats upon their digestible energy (DE) values was investigated in post-weaning pigs. The two fats evaluated were soya-bean oil (SO) and tallow (T) (representing extremes of saturation) together with their acid oils (SAO and TAO respectively) providing high FFA levels). Blends of the four fats provided treatments with varying FFA content and U/S ratios. The experimental fats were evaluated by substitution, at 40, 80 and 120 g/kg into a basal diet, in a randomized-block design, with 98 gilts and 98 boars of approximately 12 kg live weight. Pigs had been weaned at 28 days of age and experimental diets were given 7 days after weaning. When pigs obtained a weight of 10 kg the inert marker titanium dioxide was added to the diets as a reference substance. A 5-day adjustment period was allowed followed by a 5-day collection period of faeces by grab sampling. Fat content of food and faeces, with methodology based on acid hydrolysis, allowed calculation of apparent digestible fat (AFD) of experimental diets. Analysis of variance demonstrated effects of fats, rates of inclusion, and fats × rates (P < 0·001 in all cases). There was no effect of sex. Extrapolation of the function obtained by regressing AFD of diets (y) on rate of inclusion of fat (x) to × = 1000 generated values for the fats. The product of the coefficient of fat apparent digestibility of fats and their respective gross energies gave DE values for fats which were: SO = 37·2 MJ/kg, SAO = 35·0 MJ/kg, T = 34·3 MJ/kg and TAO = 27·4 MJ/kg. Data for fat blends intermediary between these fats showed that DE improved as a function of U/S and that DE declined linearly with increasing FFA content.

1. Results of an experiment involving 48 individually-fed pigs, covering the growing period between about 40 and 208 lb. live-weight, indicated that reduction in the amount of water allowed per lb. of meal from 3 lb. to 2 lb. or 1½ lb. had no significant effects on either the performance or the carcass quality of the pigs.

2. Provision of an unrestricted supply of water, in addition to the allowance of 1½ lb. added to each lb. of meal, resulted in a significant improvement in the rate of weight gain which was caused almost entirely by an increase in daily meal consumption by these pigs.

3. Under the conditions of the experiment, the provision of water ad lib. was not accompanied by any adverse effects on carcass quality, although conditions under which it might do so are discussed.

4. The data on water consumption of the pigs indicated that the observed effects on performance of providing water ad lib. did not arise as a result of a deficiency in the total water intake of the pigs given a restricted supply. The possibility is discussed that the length of time that water was available to the animals might be of importance.

The present study was performed to find out how dairy cow behaviour and the level of the adrenocortical hormone cortisol were influenced by feeding in relation to milking The experiment was designed as a Latin square and performed on 24 primiparous and multiparous Swedish Red and White dairy cows. Each treatment period lasted for 21 days, including 11 days when the cows became accustomed to the new routines. The cows were exposed to three treatments: feeding 1·5 h before milking (FBM), feeding exactly at the same time as milking (FDM) and feeding 1·5 h after milking (FAM). Recordings of individual behaviour were made with instantaneous direct observation of each cow. For the statistical analyses the recordings were divided into two groups: 0 to 1·5 h after feeding and 0 to 1·5 h after milking. Results with a P-value below 0·05 were regarded as statistically significant. The interesting findings in this study were: (a) 0 to 1·5 h after feeding, the percentage of lying was higher in FDM and the percentage of lying while ruminating was higher in FDM; (b) 0 to 1·5 h after milking, the cows in FAM had a significantly lower percentage of social interactions and a significantly higher percentage of oral activity; and (c) feeding-related level of cortisol stayed higher 30 to 60 min after feeding in FAM compared with FBM and FDM, whereas milking-related cortisol secretion tended to be lower in FDM than in FBM and FAM These results demonstrate that feeding during milking may be an important management routine, also for dairy cow behaviour.

Twelve Suffolk-Finn Dorset lambs were reared from 25 to 40 or 25 to 55 kg body weight on either pelleted dried grass or a ration of pelleted grass plus barley (ratio 1:1) in a comparative slaughter experiment designed to determine the amounts of total nitrogen and individual amino acids accreted in different body components during growth. Nitrogen (N) balance measurements were determined frequently during this growth phase and accumulated N retentions were compared with the total N accretion determined by comparative slaughter. Total N and individual amino acids accumulated in carcass, wool, skin, offal and blood, head and feet, gastro-intestinal tract and liver were linearly related to body weight in all cases other than for cysteine in carcass. At 25 kg live weight, proportionately 0·52 of total body N was in carcass components, 0·115 in wool, 0·08 in skin, 0·10 in offal and blood, 0·095 in head and feet, 0·06 in the gastro-intestinal tract and 0·02 in liver. However as the animals grew from 25 to 55 kg, 0·256 of the total N accretion was in wool, which was rich in cysteine (98 g/kg total amino acid). Carcass accretion represented only 0·449 of total body N accretion. The N balance technique overestimated net protein accretion by 0·24 (s.e. 0·036).

Three groups of does were fed respectively with three experimental diets: control (C), vegetable fat enriched (V) and animal fat enriched (A). Also their offspring were given their respective diets from weaning to slaughter. C was a standard commercial diet, V had 99 g vegetable fat per kg, and A had 114 g animal fat per kg. Sixty animals in the live-weight range 1·75 to 2·25 kg from each group were slaughtered at 9 weeks of age. The rabbits came from a commercial three-way cross. Animals on diets A and V had a better food conversion efficiency ratio, a lower drip loss and a dressing yield substantially better than those given diet C. Males had higher food conversion rate and smaller dressing yield. Carcass colour was not affected by the diet but rabbits given diet V showed less pale meat. Differences in the three colour parameters were found for the three diets for hot and chilled carcass fat colour. Muscular pH measured in the longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris were slightly higher for diets A and V and were also higher for males than for females. Water-holding capacity of raw meat from rabbits given diets A and V was higher than from rabbits given the control diet. Protein and moisture content of the meat of a hind leg was almost the same for the three diets but fat content was much higher in animals given diets A and V than in the control group.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of type of cereal and time of weaning on the performance and voluntary intake of lambs.

In the first experiment 20 early-weaned entire male lambs were given diets ad libitum during the fattening period from 15 to 40 kg live weight. The diets were based on either kibbled maize or rolled barley. A high feed efficiency and growth rate were achieved with both diets and differences between them were not statistically significant. The growth rates were 428 and 430 g/day. The cold carcass weights at 40 kg live weight were 19·0 and 19·9 kg and the conversion ratios of dry matter to live-weight gain were 2·33 and 2·22 for the rolled barley and kibbled maize diets respectively.

In the second experiment a comparison was made of the performance of 36 sets of twin lambs, one of each set being weaned at either 6, 13 or 20 weeks of age and the other being left to suck the ewe outdoors. The lambs weaned at 6 weeks had better conversions of dry matter to live-weight gain than lambs weaned at 13 and 20 weeks. The respective conversions of dry matter to live-weight gain were 3·36, 5·64 and 5·52. The lambs weaned at either 13 or 20 weeks had a greater weight at weaning, a greater growth check at weaning and a lower rate of feed intake.

This study aimed at comparing the effects of once-a-day (OAD) milking during the descending phase of lactation between cows from the two most common breeds in France (Holstein and Montbéliarde). This study was carried on during two successive summers on a total of 50 Holstein and 38 Montbéliarde cows. During 7 weeks, half of the cows from each breed was milked OAD while the other half was milked twice a day (TAD). The animals were also followed for the next 3 or 5 weeks when they were all milked TAD, to check for any residual effect of OAD milking. The behaviour of OAD cows was observed around milking time. The incidence of diseases, the main performance variables (milk production, milk flow rate, live weight and body condition score), the detailed composition of milk (fat, protein, lactose, somatic cells, minerals, pH, free fatty acid (FFA), nitrogen fractions and enzymes) and some technological variables (clotting time and curd firmness) were measured on all cows.

Some signs of disturbance were observed in the OAD cows at the time when milking was omitted: some cows mooed, some went close to the exit of the paddock, some leaked milk prior to milking. However, these signs disappeared after 2 days. After the experimental period, the live weight and the body condition score of TAD and OAD cows did not differ significantly. OAD cows produced 4.5 kg/day less than TAD (P < 0.001), this being more marked in Holstein (5.7 kg/day, P < 0.001) than Montbéliarde (3.3 kg/day, P < 0.001) cows. The milk contents of fat, whey protein, casein, total protein and phosphorus, and its plasminogen activity, were higher with OAD cows while lactose and FFA contents, and lipoprotein lipase activity were lower, with no interaction observed with breed. During the subsequent 3 weeks, when all cows were again milked TAD, OAD cows still produced 1.7 kg/day less milk (P < 0.01) with slightly higher fat and protein content.

OAD milking for 7 weeks during the descending phase of lactation decreased milk production but increased milk content of most components, with a low residual effect. Montbéliarde cows were less affected by OAD milking than Holstein cows.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of butaphosphan and cyanocobalamin (BTPC) supplementation on plasma metabolites and milk production in postpartum dairy cows. A total of fifty-two Holstein cows were randomly assigned to receive either: (1) 10 ml of saline (NaCl 0.9%, control group); (2) 1000 mg of butaphosphan and 0.5 mg of cyanocobalamin (BTPC1 group); and (3) 2000 mg of butaphosphan and 1.0 mg of cyanocobalamin (BTPC2 group). All cows received injections every 5 days from calving to 20 days in milk (DIM). Blood samples were collected every 15 days from calving until 75 DIM to determine serum concentration of glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), cholesterol, urea, calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), aminotransferase aspartate (AST) and γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT). The body condition score (BCS) and milk production were evaluated from calving until 90 DIM. Increasing doses of BTPC caused a linear reduction in plasma concentrations of NEFA and cholesterol. Supplementation of BTPC also reduced concentrations of BHB but it did not differ between the two treatment doses. Milk yield and milk protein had a linear increase with increasing doses of BTPC. A quadratic effect was detected for milk fat and total milk solids according to treatment dose, and BTPC1 had the lowest mean values. Concentrations of glucose, urea, P, Mg, AST, GGT, milk lactose and BCS were not affected by treatment. These results indicate that injections of BTPC during the early postpartum period can reduce NEFA and BHB concentrations and increase milk production in Holstein cows.

The oxidative study has always been particularly topical in poultry science. However, little information about the occurrence of cellular apoptosis and autophagy through the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signal pathway was reported in the liver of broilers exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). So we investigated the change of growth performance of broilers exposed to H2O2 and further explored the occurrence of apoptosis and autophagy, as well as the expression of NF-κB in these signaling pathways in the liver. A total of 320 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chickens were raised on a basal diet and randomly divided into five treatments which were arranged as non-injected treatment (Control), physiological saline (0.75%) injected treatment (Saline) and H2O2 treatments (H2O2(0.74), H2O2(1.48) and H2O2(2.96)) received an intraperitoneal injection of H2O2 with 0.74, 1.48 and 2.96 mM/kg BW. The results showed that compared to those in the control and saline treatments, 2.96 mM/kg BW H2O2-treated broilers exhibited significantly higher feed/gain ratio at 22 to 42 days and 1 to 42 days, ROS formation, the contents of oxidation products, the mRNA expressions of caspases (3, 6, 8), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II/LC3-I, autophagy-related gene 6, Bcl-2 associated X and protein expressions of total caspase-3 and total LC3-II, and significantly lower BW gain at 22 to 42 days and 1 to 42 days, the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, the expression of NF-κB in the liver. Meanwhile, significantly higher feed/gain ratio at 1 to 42 days, ROS formation, the contents of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde, the mRNA expression of caspase-3 and the protein expressions of total caspase-3 and total LC3-II, as well as significantly lower BW gain at 22 to 42 days and 1 to 42 days were observed in broilers received 1.48 mM/kg BW H2O2 treatment than those in control and saline treatments. These results indicated that oxidative stress induced by H2O2 had a negative effect on histomorphology and redox status in the liver of broilers, which was associated with a decline in growth performance of broilers. This may attribute to apoptosis and autophagy processes triggered by excessive ROS that suppress the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Urea-treated whole-crop wheat harvested at growth stage (GS) 87 that was either unprocessed (U) or processed (P) by the forage harvester, and cut at one of two heights to produce a long straw (L), or short straw (S) forage, was offered to 44 Holstein-Friesian dairy cows for 14 weeks according to a 2 ✕ 2 factorial design. Whole-crop wheat (WCW) was mixed 2: 1 on a dry-matter (DM) basis with grass silage and all animals received 8·5 kg/day of concentrate and 2 kg/day of rapeseed meal. Increasing the cutting height at harvest increased the starch content in the forage from an average of 356 to 419 g/kg DM and decreased neutral-detergent fibre levels from 422 to 337 g/kg DM. Forage intake (grass silage and WCW) was higher in cows given the unprocessed compared with the processed forages (13·7 v. 12·5 kg DM per day for treatments U v. P respectively; P < 0·05) and tended (P < 0·08) to be higher in cows given the long compared with the short straw forages. Neither processing, nor alteration of cutting height, had a significant effect on milk yield (kg/day). However, milk fat content decreased (P < 0·05) with increasing cutting height (41·9 v. 37·0 g/kg for the main effects of L v. S respectively) whilst body condition score was lower (P < 0·05) in cows given the long compared with the short straw forages (2·6 v. 2·8 respectively). Plasma glucose levels were higher (P < 0·05) in animals receiving the short compared with long straw forages (3·52 v. 3·34 mmol/l respectively) whereas β-hydroxybutyrate decreased (P < 0·01) with increased cutting height. The average digestibility of starch in the total ration was higher (P < 0·001) in cows given the processed compared with the unprocessed WCW (0·96 v. 0·88 respectively). Assuming a constant apparent digestibility of starch in the other food components resulted in a WCW starch apparent digestibility of 0·87, 0·97, 0·80 and 0·96 for forages LU, LP, SU and SP respectively (P < 0·001). The results indicate that processing at harvest significantly increased the digestibility of starch in WCW and that cows responded to this higher nutrient content by decreasing forage intake. Increasing the cutting height at harvest decreased milk fat content (g/kg) and yield (kg/day) and increased body condition score.

Effects of heat load and of photoperiod on lactation performance were evaluated using milk test data of three Israeli Holstein herds over a period of 3 years, from 1994 to 1996. All together 2209 cows, with 28029 milk records, were included. Photoperiod effects were examined as associated with day length and daily changes in day length and heat load index was formulated as a function of the seasonal day and night ambient temperatures, to account for the heat load effect. The regression model included effects of cow, herd, year, lactation number and days in milk in addition to the seasonal effects. The dependent variables were milk yield and fat, protein and lactose concentrations. Milk yield was affected by both photoperiod and heat load, with the peak photoperiod effect in May and amplitude of 3·1 (s.d. 0·9) kg/day and negative heat load effect of-1-8 (s.d. 0·4) kg/day at its peak. Protein concentration was affected by photoperiod, with the peak effect in January (amplitude of 1·7 (s.e. 0·5) g/kg) but not by heat load (-0-2 (s.d. 0·6) glkg). Fat concentration was affected primarily by heat load (-3-4 (s.d. 0·7) g/kg), with a photoperiod effect which peaked in October (amplitude of 1·8 (s.d. 0·8) g/kg). Lactose concentration was affected by both environmental factors to a lesser extent (photoperiod amplitude of 0·6 (s.d. 0·2) g/kg and heat load effect of-0-03 (s.d. 0·16) g/kg). Comparison of the predicted seasonal effects on milk yield and composition with the annual fluctuation in the national herd showed a good match of the predicted effects with the national observations. It is concluded that while heat load relief may be beneficial, manipulation of the photoperiod may induce adverse effects on milk yield and composition.

This study assessed the efficacy of the n-alkane technique to estimate intake and diet composition in animals given single foods or a choice of two. In the first experiment intakes of pelleted ryegrass and lucerne, given either alone or as a choice, were measured in lambs housed indoors in individual pens. Each of the three feeding treatments was given to 12 lambs at two degrees of maturity (0·30 and 0·45 of estimated mature sizes). The 12 lambs were constituted as three replicates of the two sexes of each of two breeds. The measured intakes were compared with those estimated using the n-alkanes C31 and C33, found naturally in the foods, and C32, which was given as a dose. On the choice treatment diet composition was estimated using a non-negative least squares procedure and data on C31 and C33 alone. The agreement between actual and predicted intake was good: R2 of 0·938 for log-linear regression with a residual standard deviation of 0·0845. Intake of lucerne when offered alone was slightly yet significantly over-predicted. The proportion of ryegrass in the diet was also accurately predicted (R2 of 0·950 and residual s.d. of 0·0398). Using the data on C27 and C29, in addition to that on C31 and C33, gave a poorer agreement with the observed diet compositions. The low and similar levels of C27 in the two foods meant that this n-alkane provided little extra information that could be used to estimate diet composition. In a second experiment faecal samples were collected every 4 hours over a 24-h period in six lambs on ad libitum, and in six lambs on a restricted quantity, of pelleted ryegrass. There was no significant diurnal variation in the ratios of either C31 or C33 to C32 on either ad libitum or restricted feeding. The time of faecal collection within a day should not therefore affect the reliability of the predictions. The study confirmed the value of using n-alkanes in methods to determine the intake of forages by sheep, and that the time of faecal collection within the day does not affect the reliability of these predictions. The results also confirm the utility of the n-alkane method for estimating diet choice, at least with two-component mixtures.

Knowledge of tissue and cuts growth depending on the sex could be used to improve performance and efficiency. Computed tomography (CT) is a non-invasive technology that enables the study of the body composition of live animals during growth. The aims of the present study were (1) to evaluate variation in the body composition of four sex types (SEX) of pigs (castrated males (CM), immunocastrated males (IM), entire males (EM) and females (FE)) at the live weight of 30, 70, 100 and 120 kg, assessed using CT; (2) to model the growth of the main tissues and cuts; and (3) to predict the mature BW (MBW) of the four SEX and establish the relationships between the growth models and the MBW. There were significant phenotypic differences in the allometric growth of fat and lean among SEX. For the lean tissue, FE and EM showed higher values of the b coefficient than CM and IM (1.07 and 1.07 v. 1.00 and 1.02, respectively) all of them close to unity, indicating a proportional growth rate similar to live weight and that this tissue developed faster in FE and EM than in CM and IM. However, these differences were not related to differences in estimated MBW. There were significant differences in estimated MBW among SEX, being higher in IM and EM than in CM and FE (303 and 247 v. 219 and 216 kg), however, the MBW may have been overestimated, especially for the IM. The poorer accuracy of the MBW estimate for the IM could be due to a maximum live weight of 120 kg in the experiment, or to the fact that this particular SEX presented two clear behaviours, being more similar to EM from birth to the second injection of the vaccine (130 days) and comparable with CM from that point to the final BW.

Optimizing feeding regimens in early life to maximize lifelong growth and production are essential in the dairy industry. This study investigated the effects of milk replacer (MR) feeding frequency and calf age on behavior, and glucose and insulin kinetics of pre- and post-weaned calves fed an elevated plane of MR. Ten male Holstein calves (42.2±1.8 kg BW) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to two treatments offering 8 l MR/day (150 g/l) in two (2×; meal size 4 l) or four (4×; meal size 2 l) feedings via an automated calf feeder. Milk replacer was gradually stepped down by 1 l/day during week 8, with calves being weaned by week 9. Water and pelleted calf starter were offered ad libitum. Individual intake of MR and starter were recorded daily, and BW was recorded weekly. The number of visits to the MR feeder (rewarded and unrewarded), and behaviors such as lying, cross-sucking, non-nutritive sucking and occupancy time in the feeder were recorded for individual calves from weeks 4 to 10. Jugular catheters were placed on weeks 4, 7 and 10 to facilitate postprandial blood sampling and glucose tolerance tests. Statistical analysis was conducted using the PROC GLIMMIX procedure (SAS) for behavioral observations, and the MIXED procedure (SAS) with repeated measures for BW, intake, plasma glucose and plasma insulin data. Final BW, starter and MR intake did not differ between treatments. There were no differences in observed calf behaviors; with the exception that 2× calves visited the MR feeder more often (P<0.01; total: unrewarded and rewarded). Baseline concentrations (mmol/l) and the maximum change in glucose (delta, mmol/l) were greater and lower (P=0.02) in 4×compared to 2×calves, respectively. Postprandial insulin AUC240 tended (P=0.09) to be greater in 2×calves, compared to 4×calves at week 7. Similarly, Tmax (min), AUC240 and delta values (µU/ml) were greater (P⩽0.05) in 2×calves, compared to 4×calves. No treatment ×age interactions were observed for glucose or insulin during the glucose tolerance tests. Therefore, we conclude that feeding an elevated plane of MR (8 l/day) at a lower frequency (2× v. 4×) increased feeder visits, but not other hunger-related behaviors, and while postprandial glucose and insulin parameters varied, insulin sensitivity remained stable in Holstein dairy calves up to 10 weeks of age in calves consuming similar levels of calf starter.

Production systems for fattening pigs have been characterized over the last 2 decades by rising farm sizes coupled with increasing group sizes. These developments resulted in a serious public discussion regarding animal welfare and health in these intensive production systems. Even though large farm and group sizes came under severe criticism, it is still unknown whether these factors indeed negatively affect animal welfare. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of group size (<15 v. 15 to 30 v. >30 pigs/pen) on various animal-based measures of the Welfare Quality® protocol for growing pigs under conventional fattening conditions. A total of 60 conventional pig fattening farms with different group sizes in Germany were included. Moderate bursitis (35%) was found as the most prevalent indicator of welfare-related problems, while its prevalence increased with age during the fattening period. However, differences between group sizes were not detected (P>0.05). The prevalence of moderately soiled bodies increased from 9.7% at the start to 14.2% at the end of the fattening period, whereas large pens showed a higher prevalence (15.8%) than small pens (10.4%; P<0.05). With increasing group size, the incidence of moderate wounds with 8.5% and 11.3% in small- and medium-sized pens, respectively, was lower (P<0.05) than in large-sized ones (16.3%). Contrary to bursitis and dirtiness, its prevalence decreased during the fattening period. Moderate manure was less often found in pigs fed by a dry feeder than in those fed by a liquid feeding system (P<0.05). The human–animal relationship was improved in large in comparison to small groups. On the contrary, negative social behaviour was found more often in large groups. Exploration of enrichment material decreased with increasing live weight. Given that all animals were tail-docked, tail biting was observed at a very low rate of 1.9%. In conclusion, the results indicate that BW and feeding system are determining factors for the welfare status, while group size was not proved to affect the welfare level under the studied conditions of pig fattening.

Thirty-six 5-month-old Dorset ram lambs (28·7 kg) were used to investigate the effects of fasting and transport on performance and selected blood parameters. Three treatment groups (no. = 12) were: (1) control-food and water, without transport; (2) fasting for 72 h, without transport; and (3) transport in a trailer to a nearby auction-barn, then driven 8 h/day for 3 days without food or water for a total of 72 h. Lambs were given a total mixed diet containing 163 g/kg crude protein throughout the 28-day post-transport period. Both fasted and transported lambs consumed less food than the control group during the first 7 days post treatment (P < 0·05). Water intake was similar for all treatment groups on the 1st day post transport, after which both fasted and transport lambs drank less ivater than control lambs during the following 6 days (P < 0·05). Live-weight loss after the 3-day fast and transport period and subsequent body-weight gain during the 28-day realimentation period differed across all treatment groups (P < 0·05 and P < 0·09; (1) 1% and 305 g, (2) 14·8% and 343 g, and (3) 20·0% and 390 g, respectively, though control lambs had the highest weight gains over the 32-day experimental period. Plasma urea nitrogen was lower in both fasted and transported lambs on days 6, 7 and 11 compared with control lambs (P < 0·05). Plasma glucose concentrations on days 4 and 5 were lower in transported lambs than in fasted lambs, and highest in control lambs (P < 0·05); glucose concentration levels remained lower in both fasted and transported lambs than in control lambs on days 6 and 7 (P < 0·05). Plasma cortisol concentrations were highest in transported lambs during the 3-day transport period and for 2 days immediately following transport (P < 0·05). Effects of the 72 h fast were exacerbated by auction barn activity and subsequent transport, and compensatory gains by fasted and transport lambs were incomplete within the 28-day post transport period.

Four diets were formulated from cereals, animal and vegetable protein supplements and tallow, to contain digestible energy (DE) concentrations of 14·1 or 17·1 MJ/kg and crude protein concentrations of 12·7 or 17·0 g/MJ DE in a 2 X 2 factorial design. In each of two experiments, pigs were weaned and allocated to dietary treatments when 21 days old and were fed twice daily to appetite. In experiment 1, six replicates of four male littermates were used. They were individually fed in metabolism cages and continuous energy and nitrogen (N) balances were made from 28 to 63 days of age. In experiment 2, three male and three female pigs were slaughtered at weaning to determine initial body composition, and three replicates of four littermates of each sex were allocated to the dietary treatments. The latter were fed in treatment groups in flat-deck pens and slaughtered at 63 days of age.

In experiment 1, increased energy concentration reduced food intake only slightly and improved liveweight gain and food: gain ratio; higher protein concentration increased gains only at lower energy concentration. Daily N balance improved with increased energy and protein concentration but the response to protein was greater with the low energy diet. Dietary energy was efficiently utilized even with 163 g tallow per kg diet. From 63 days of age until slaughter at 60 kg all pigs were given the same grower diet to appetite. Performance was not affected by previous treatments.

In experiment 2, food intakes were higher than in experiment 1 and tended to be reduced to a greater extent with the higher energy concentration; live-weight gains were similar for all treatments and food: gain ratio tended to improve in response to higher energy and protein concentrations. Dietary energy level had no effect on carcass fat content but the higher protein level reduced fat deposition. N retention tended to be lower for the low energy, low protein diet compared with the other three diets. Dietary effects on the amino-acid composition of the carcass were small. Carcass amino-acid ratios at 3 and 9 weeks were similar to published values and there was a tendency for higher amino-acid concentrations (g/16 g N) at 9 weeks than at 3 weeks.

The objective of this study was to measure changes in body composition, physical activity and adipose and skeletal muscle gene expression of cats fed a high-protein (HP) diet or moderate-protein (MP) diet, following ovariohysterectomy. Eight cats were randomized onto HP or MP diets and were fed those diets for several months prior to baseline. All cats underwent an ovariohysterectomy at baseline (week 0) and were allowed ad libitum access to dietary treatments for 24 weeks. Food intake was measured daily, and BW and body condition score were measured weekly. Blood, adipose and skeletal muscle tissue samples were collected, physical activity was measured, and body composition was determined using DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) at weeks 0, 12 and 24. Caloric intake increased soon after ovariohysterectomy, resulting in increased (P < 0.05) BW at weeks 12 and 24 compared to week 0. Body condition score and body fat percentage increased (P < 0.05) over time. Blood glucose increased (P < 0.05) linearly over time. Non-esterified fatty acids were decreased (P < 0.05) at weeks 12 and 24 compared to week 0. Blood leptin increased (P < 0.05) over time. Total physical activity decreased (P < 0.05) from week 0 to weeks 12 and 24 in all cats. Adipose tissue mRNA abundance of adiponectin, hormone sensitive lipase, toll-like receptor-4, uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) and vascular endothelial growth factor decreased (P < 0.05) linearly over time, regardless of diet. Skeletal muscle mRNA abundance for glucose transporter-1, hormone sensitive lipase and UCP2 were decreased (P < 0.05), regardless of dietary treatment. Our research noted metabolic changes following ovariohysterectomy that are in agreement with gene expression changes pertaining to lipid metabolism. Feeding cats ad libitum after ovariohysterectomy is inadvisable.